Abu Dhabi’s Sanad, Airbus announce partnership for MRO services

Sanad, the global aerospace engineering and leasing solutions leader wholly owned by Abu Dhabi’s sovereign investor Mubadala, has announced a strategic partnership with Airbus.

The agreement, formalised at the Farnborough International Airshow, reflects Sanad’s growth trajectory and its expanding global customer base.

The deal also reinforces Abu Dhabi’s role as a leading aviation hub.

Sanad to provide MRO services to Airbus

Under the new partnership, Sanad will provide maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) services for engines powering Airbus single-aisle aircraft, such as the A320 and A321, as well as wide-body aircraft, including the A330.

The agreement covers the Rolls Royce Trent 700, International Aero Engines V2500-A5, and CFM LEAP-1A engine platforms.

Ismail Ali Abdulla, head of UAE Clusters at Mubadala’s UAE Investments Platform remarked, “The agreement with Airbus extends Sanad’s longstanding strategic alliances with the world’s leading aerospace companies. It reflects the unwavering confidence of global aerospace leaders in Sanad’s engineering and technical capabilities, positioning it to significantly impact the global aviation sector from its base in Abu Dhabi.”

Mansoor Janahi, MD and group CEO of Sanad, added, “We are proud to add Airbus as the latest partner to our list of long-term partners. This agreement underscores our commitment to delivering world-class MRO services and solidifies our position as a trusted partner in the aerospace industry.”

Proven track record

Since 2013, Sanad has been the largest and only independent service provider of Rolls-Royce Trent 700 engines globally. Additionally, it operates the only V2500 full overhaul shop in the Middle East, supporting V2500 customers since 2012, and is the first and only non-OEM LEAP Engine MRO centre in the SAMENA region.

These comprehensive MRO solutions, delivered from its facilities in Abu Dhabi, solidify Sanad’s role as a vital player in the aerospace industry.

The partnership with Airbus marks a pivotal step in Sanad’s growth, enhancing its position in the global aerospace industry and strengthening its capacity to deliver exceptional MRO services. This collaboration aligns with Sanad’s strategic vision of leveraging its diverse expertise to support the aviation sector and contribute to the broader goals of Saudi Vision 2030.

In other news, Sanad generated Dhs2.3bn in revenue by H1 2024, driven by strong performances in both its MRO and leasing divisions.

Sanad projects a significant jump to Dhs4.5bn by year-end, reflecting a 28 per cent increase over 2023 and double the revenue of 2022.